Gaillardia plant named ‘DGAL3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Gaillardia  cultivar named ‘DGAL3’ is disclosed, characterized by an intensely colored flower of large size, good branching, somewhat compact plant habit, and abundant flowering. The new variety begins blooming early in the season and flowers over a long period of time. The new variety is a Gaillardia, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Gaillardia grandiflora.

Variety denomination: ‘DGAL3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Gaillardia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newGaillardia varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The crossresulting in this new variety was made during June 2006.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referredto as Gaillardia grandiflora ‘GAI-3’. The pollen parent is unknown, asthe crossing resulting in ‘DGAL3’ was an open pollination, withunidentifiable pollen parents. The new variety was discovered in April2007 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2006crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DGAL3’ by vegetative cuttingswas first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel in August 2007 and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DGAL3’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DGAL3’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DGAL3’ as a new and distinct Gaillardiacultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, round habit    -   2. Abundant flowering    -   3. Flowering over a long period of time.    -   4. Well branched plant habit    -   5. Early blooming    -   6. Large flower size    -   7. Intense flowers colors

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DGAL3’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Gaillardia grandiflora ‘GAI 3’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DGAL3’ produce aplant that is more branched, compact in habit and possesses a largerflower size compared to the seed parent. The pollen parent is not knownfor comparison.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DGAL3’ are comparable to the varietyGaillardia grandiflora ‘Gallo-dark bi-color’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,718,but differs in possessing a more compact habit and a deep darkred-purple disk floret color in comparison to red disk floret of thecomparison variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DGAL3’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Gaillardia grandiflora ‘Gallo-Yellow’ U.S. Plant Pat.No. 20,716. Plants of the two varieties are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics. However plants of ‘DGAL3’ produce largerflowers, as well as bi-color red and yellow petals color compared toyellow petals of the comparison variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DGAL3’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm pot. Age ofthe plant photographed is approximately 8 weeks from a rooted cutting.

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 2 is a close up of the flowers ofthe above mentioned plant. The photographs were taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DGAL3’ plants grown outdoors during May 2011in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from18° C. to 28° C. during the day and from 13° C. to 18° C. during thenight. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes. Plants are approximately 12 weeks old from a rooted cutting.

-   Botanical classification: Gaillardia grandiflora ‘DGAL3’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 3-4 days at approximately 20° C.-   Root description: Fleshy, well branched.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 84 days from a rooted cutting.-   Growth habit: Compact, round and mounded.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm.-   Height: Approximately 20-25 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 30-35 cm.-   Growth rate: As the day gets longer the growth rate changes from    moderate to fast.-   Branching characteristics: Well Branched.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 8 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 5.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Diameter.—0.5-0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D.        -   Texture.—Lightly covered with thin short soft hairs.        -   Strength.—Very strong.-   Internodes length: Average 1-1.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 40 per branch.        -   Average length.—8 cm.        -   Average width.—1-1.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Pointed.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Delicate, very light and thin.        -   Aspect.—30-45 degrees upwards.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146B. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 147D.        -   Petiole.—Absent.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: March-November-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 4-6 weeks-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Terminal occurring    composite,-   Rate of flower opening: 3 to 5 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: 5-7 days-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self cleaning-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter of entire flower.—Approximately 8 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—Approximately cm. 2.5 cm.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per lateral stem.—3-5.        -   Quantity of open inflorescences and buds per plant.—30-40.-   Bud: (just before opening):    -   -   Shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 cm.        -   Color.—Ray florets: Near RHS Yellow group 4B near tip, and            Red group 53A near base Disc florets: Near RHS Yellow-Green            group 151B at center and Greyed-Purple group 187A at the            edge.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Quantity.—Average 13.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate in a single whorl.        -   Length.—3.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Heart Shaped.        -   Apex.—Cordate.        -   Base.—Atteuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, Slightly ribbed            longwise.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple            group 60A to Red group 46A near center and Yellow-Orange            group 14B at the tip. When opening lower surface: Near RHS            Yellow-Orange group 14A near tip and Red-Purple 60A at the            center. Fully opened, upper surface: Near RHS Yellow-Orange            group 14A near tip and Red group 47A at the center. Fully            opened, lower surface: Near RHS Yellow-Orange group 14A near            tip and Red group 46A at the center.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity.—150.        -   Arrangement.—Spirally placed on disc.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.        -   Width.—0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Apex.—Emarginated.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Covered with short soft            hairs, resulting in velvet texture.        -   Color.—Mature: Near RHS Red group 49D near base and            Red-Purple group 59A at tips. Young: Near RHS Green-Yellow            group 1D RHS near center and Purple group N79A Near tip.-   Phyllaries/involucral bracts:    -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 25.        -   Length.—1.5-4 cm (3 spiral rows of involucral bracts, the            row near petals are shorter than those that far from petals,            range given).        -   Width.—0.3-1.5 cm (3 spiral rows of involucral bracts, the            row near petals are narrow than those that far from petals).        -   Shape (overall).—Lanceolate Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Wedge-shaped.        -   Texture.—Dull, Covered with lightsome short thin hairs.        -   Margin.—Entire, with short hair directly on margin.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137B.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—Average 6 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Angle.—About 45° to the lateral branch.        -   Strength.—High.        -   Texture.—Slightly glossy due to short and delicate hairs.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-green 147D.-   Fragrance: Slightly sweet scent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Disc florets:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple group N187A.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow-Orange group 21A. Quantity:            Abundant.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—One present.        -   Length.—1.4 mm.        -   Style.—Tubular.        -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow group 2D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Bifid. Color: Near RHS Grayed-Purple group            187A. Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow group 6D.-   Ray florets: No Reproductive Organs Observed on Ray Florets.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: 50-70 seeds per flower, Shape — oblong triangle,    size — 0.2 cm long×0.15 cm wide, with spiny crown on top 0.3 cm    long×0.2 wide.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Gaillardia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety exhibits a good temperature    tolerance range for Gaillardia. Known tolerance for high    temperatures to at least 35° C. Lower temperature tolerance unknown.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plantnamed ‘DGAL3’ as herein illustrated and described.